Melissa is a mom of two boys, ages 4 and 3, from Temecula, California. When she is not having fun with her kids at the Disneyland Resort, she enjoys camping and watching the Angels. She has been a Babes in Disneyland reader for a long time and has contributed to the blog in the past.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve used my children to foster my addiction to all things Disney. I can and have used them as an excuse to wear a Tinkerbell adorned T shirt any day of the week. But my infatuation with Disney goes beyond the eyes of a child. Sure, it started with a love for the classics, but over the years as Disney has evolved, so has my love for the magic it creates.

Being married without children for over ten years, my husband tolerated my Disney addiction, allowing occasional trips and watching whatever animated features I fancied. But, when we became parents it all changed. I longed for the day that my boys would be old enough to properly introduce them to Disneyland, and ever since that day the game has been on! I did hours and hours of research to find out the best way to immerse them in magic in a way that we could all enjoy. Along the way I found out that I wasn’t a lone geek, and that there are many others out there who are just like me. In my quest to make my children’s Disney experience all that it could be I became obsessed with Disney history and trivia. It was during this time that I really caught the Club 33 itch. I mean, I knew about it before but thought it was totally out of the realm of possibilities for me.

The exclusivity of Club 33 intrigued me to the point of obsession. I couldn’t get enough. I was reading blogs and message board posts about other people’s experience with the club. I wanted in. I really, really wanted in. I didn’t know anyone with a membership and I certainly didn’t have the patience to wait over a decade for my own. At the same time, I knew that even if I did find someone with access my chances would be slim that they would let me use their membership to get a reservation. You see, a member can offer up their membership privileges to others as their guests. If and when an actual member of Club 33 extends their membership to a non-member they take responsibility for that guests presence in their stead. This means if that the appearance and behavior of the guests is a reflection on the member. So why would someone who barely knows someone offer up access to club 33? That is precisely what I asked myself when I received my invitation, then I quickly got over it. I was going to Club 33! It was an unexpected offer from someone I had only recently been acquainted with. I had no idea that she had access to membership privileges until literally minutes before she offered to make a reservation for me. Imagine my complete and utter surprise!

Our reservation was set for 6 people. I carefully selected friends that I knew would not only enjoy and appreciate the experience, but ones that I could also count on to act responsibly and respectfully. With only four weeks to plan our visit I immediately went to work on one of the most important aspects of our trip. What to wear? Why, you ask, is my attire so important? Well, as a guest of Disneyland’s Club 33 you are gifted a complimentary park hopper ticket for the day of your reservation, which means that we were going to be spending the day in the parks prior to our dinner reservation.

Club 33 has a very stringent dress code so I wanted to be certain that I would be comfortable in the park all day, but still dressed accordingly for dinner. There are no shorts or short pants allowed for men or women during dinner and men must wear a collard shirt. Jeans, tank tops and sandals are also not permissible. The dress code for lunch is slightly more lenient with unfaded, non-distressed, nice looking jeans being allowed as are walking length shorts.

When our big day arrived we headed to the park for a day of fun without the children. We went straight to guest relations to check in and at that time I was given all six tickets. They served as our park hoppers and our entrance to dinner. We spent the afternoon in anticipation of dinner. We did our best to eat a light lunch since we had seen copies of previous menus and anticipated some serious culinary indulgence. We arrived to Club 33 about 10 minutes prior to our reservation so we had plenty of time to pose for photo opportunities prior to actually pressing the elusive buzzer. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the location of Disneyland’s Club 33, it’s entrance is right next to The Blue Bayou restaurant. You’ll notice a green door with a beautiful 33 placard on the wall next to the door. At precisely 6:15 I pressed the intercom button, but just when I expected a voice to welcome me the door to Club 33 swung open. For a moment I thought that it was some impeccable service, then I realized that a couple who had gone in minutes before were leaving. I assumed that they were being turned away based on their attire, but I can’t be certain. As we entered the door to the lobby we were met by a cast member, and I must say that I had imagined a much more cheerful greeting that the one we received. It didn’t matter too much to me though, we were in! The cast member verified our reservation time and party size all the while giving our group an inconspicuous once over to make sure we were dressed to her approval.

Once we were checked in the cast member announced our party by making a phone call upstairs. We were then offered the stairs or the French lift, of course we chose the lift which was chosen for Club 33 by Walt Disney himself. Only three people are permitted in the lift at a time so our group took two trips. Once we were all gathered at the top of the lift we were whisked away to our table with little wait. We were seated at a beautiful round table in the main dining room that was set elegantly for six. Every detail was kept in mind, right down to the chargers that were embellished with the Club 33 logo. The window, had it not been covered in scaffolding from the ongoing refurbishment would have lent itself to a beautiful view of the Rivers of America.

Our server introduced himself, asked if we had any questions, and then, just as quickly left us to look at the wine list and make some beverage decisions. Since 33 Royal Street is the only address inside of Disneyland park that serves alcoholic beverages, we all chose to embrace that and order a glass of wine each. For dinner, you can choose from the a la carte menu or you can choose the Vintner’s menu. The Vintner’s menu is a five course menu that changes seasonally with fresh food availability. It’s a pre fixe menu carefully created by the chef and for an additional charge, you can add a wine pairing to your five courses. For our party, one person chose the Vintner’s menu and the remaining five of us chose a la carte. The Vintner’s menu is $85 and the a la carte menu ranges from $12-$32 for appetizer selections and $37-$45 for main dishes. I might add, that no matter what you order while at Club 33 there is a minimum charge of $72 per person (before tax and tip), which is equivalent to the price of a one day one park admission.

Everyone in our party ordered appetizers. It was nice to be with a group of adventurous eaters as we all shared tastes of each others food. The shrimp cakes and diver scallop appetizers were among the favorites of the group. Main courses were shared around the table as well so that all of our curious palettes were satisfied. I personally recommend the Filet of Chateaubraind and the John Dory, both were excellent.

Although we were stuffed, we couldn’t turn down dessert, that would be culinary blasphemy! Once desserts were ordered the ladies excused themselves to the restrooms, not only to use the facilities, but to take time for photo opportunities. Yes, the restrooms in Club 33 are a place for photos! There you will find the most unique and fancy toilets you have ever seen, no kidding!

Dessert was amazing and though we were all stuffed, we were thankful that we didn’t skip it. From Apple Charlotte, to the Chocolate Trio, to the Black Tea Infused Creme Brulee, there wasn’t a disappointed guest at our table.

The restaurant does offer a children’s menu, though we didn’t ask to see it. Because of the length of the meal and the quiet atmosphere I wouldn’t recommend bringing little ones. In the three hours we spent at Club 33 we managed to forget we were in Disneyland.

Over all we were all very impressed by the ambiance of the club, the superb service and the quality of t he food served. Club 33 is elegantly decorated and adorned with some of the most unique decor I have ever seen. It’s impossible not to find yourself wandering around, taking photos and imagining the people who have passed through the club before you. In fact, we were encouraged by others to take our time after dinner to look around and take photographs, and we did just that.

They offer a selection of Club 33 exclusive merchandise that is tastefully displayed in a china hutch. Being the geek that I am, I couldn’t leave without a set of Club 33 Mickey ears and a Club 33 trader pin, that I’m sure I will never trade. They also offer hats, shirts, handbags, latte mugs and robes just to mention a few items.

I can’t say enough about our experience! We were on cloud nine all night long. I feel so incredibly blessed to have had this opportunity. I’d like to say that I will visit Club 33 again, but I realize that is not guaranteed. I feel honored that my friend thought enough of me to offer me a reservation, and I also realize that most people will never, in their lifetime, step inside of Club 33. I know that I’m part of that lucky few and I’m ever so thankful for the opportunity. Hopefully, one day, I will return. If you are ever given the opportunity to visit Club 33, do whatever you can to make it happen, you won’t be disappointed!

That’s me–glass of wine andno baby! I was free as could beonly 8 weeks after Baby C’s arrival.I needed a little vino to ease myguilt about leaving my little guy.

Last night I attended the World of Color media preview and dress rehearsal. It was a great night and in addition to watching the show, learning about what it takes to put on such a production, we were treated to samples of the foods and beverages available to guests attending California Adventure this summer. As always, there were a limited number of online media invited, and I am proud to have been one of three blogs invited. My partners in Disney crime, Marcy Massura from The Glamorous Life Association and Suzanne Broughton from Alive in Wonderland were lots of fun and as always armed with a far better camera than mine. Thanks to Marcy and Suz for allowing me to steal your pix!

Over the next couple of weeks I will be bringing you lots of information on World of Color and this is the second installment in that series. If you missed it, click here to see some of the pictures I took at the show and posted earlier today. For now, I’m excited to bring you details on viewing options for the show. There are four ways to see the show.

The Disneyland management team are taking the lead from the folks at Walt Disney World and are offering two dining packages that include reserved viewing for the show. The first is a picnic meal available through online reservations or walk-up purchase. The meals are $14.99 per person and may be reserved online up to 60 days in advance. Simply look for the link on Disneyland’s homepage. The meals may be picked up at the Sonoma Terrace starting at 2p.m. the day of your visit. Guests who reserve online will be assigned viewing to the first show (9p.m.) and those who select the walk-up option will be assigned to the second show (10:15p.m.). There are four meal options for adults: The All-American (cold fried chicken), The Taste of Asian (cold miso-glazed salmon and spring rolls), The European Antipasto (cured meats and amazing cheeses), and The Mediterranean Vegetarian (grilled vegetables and a whole wheat wrap with hummus). All of the meals come with a small dessert and bottled drink of your choice. The drinks can all be upgraded to alcoholic beverages for an additional cost.

I tried two of the meals (the Asian meal and European meal) and they far exceeded my expectations of what could be mass produced for a theme park. In short, they are fantastic. They are full of flavor and remind me of something one might get at a better restaurant out in the real (nonDisney) world. I loved them both equally, but think the Asian option might be a little more filling. I must warn that as you can see, they are not huge meals–more appropriate for a light lunch or dinner. We are not big eaters and I think my husband and I would really enjoy these meals.

And of course, there are meals for the kids as well. The children’s meals are the same price, but are smaller portions and come with a glow bracelet. I think we would probably just get them an adult meal (the fried chicken, perhaps) and snack on their leftovers. The kids meals feature chicken, PB&J, or apple wedges and string cheese. Each meal is served in a reusable bag,

The second dining packages are prix fixe World of Color dinner packages available by making reservations ahead of time via the resort’s dining line (714) 781-DINE. These sit-down, table service meals include “preferred reserved viewing” but do not allow you to dine while watching the show. The three-course meal at Ariel’s Grotto starts at $29.99 for adults and $15.99 for children. The meal at Wine Country Trattoria is $39.99 for adults and $18.99 for children. Seatings are at specific times and space is limited.

The third way to view World of Color is via FAST PASS. Now, I’m a big fan of the FASTPASS system and according to the folks at Disneyland, using the FASTPASS for shows has been in place in Walt Disney World, so I am saving my skeptisism for how this is going to turn out at a show for when it opens and has had a bit of time to work the kinks out. At any rate, FASTPASSES will be available every morning at the Grizzly River Run FASTPASS terminals. A limited number of FASTPASSES will be available for each performance and I’m sure there will be a mad dash for Grizzly River Run each morning. That being said, the FASTPASSES are supposed to alleviate the need to camp out and stake your spot for the show, as most folks do for Fantasmic!. Again, I’m curious how early guests with those FASTPASSES will line up so that they get the front part of their section. The nice thing about these FASTPASSES is that unlike regular FASTPASSES you are still able to get other passes throughout the day.

The fourth and final way to view the show may still watch the show from the boardwalk or side of Paradise Bay.

Love Disneyland corn dogs? Of course you do. Who doesn’t? Recently, Disneyland Resort guests have had a tough time finding the corn dogs due to the refurbishment of the red corn dog cart on Main Street and construction at Disney’s California Adventure.

My dear friend Suz Broughton over at the blog “Alive in Wonderland” shot this great video with Gary Maggetti, Disneyland’s director of Food and Beverage. Not only does she get to the bottom of where guests can purchase those delicious dogs on a stick (now and in the future), but finds out the story behind the Disneyland corn dog’s rise, fall, and rise back to it’s golden perfection.

In one year guests buy at both parks: An estimated 3 million hamburgers, 2 million hot dogs, 6.5 million orders of french fries, 1.6 million servings of popcorn, 3.2 million servings of ice cream, 1.9 million gallons of soft drinks and 2.8 million churros.

What are your favorite foods at the resort? I love the Dole Whips, the English Toffee at the Candy Palace, and the fish and chips aren’t too shabby either. Clearly, I am a very healthy eater!

In light of my posting yesterday, I thought that it was only fitting that I post tips on how to save money at the Disneyland Resort. Some of these I’ve posted before and others I grabbed from my site.

Here are my top 5 ways to save some green at the Disneyland Resort:

1. Don’t buy bottled water

Bring your own water bottle and refill it throughout the resort from the filtered water spigots. The city of Anaheim has award-winning water and considering the fact that the resort exclusively sells Aquafina watered (which is filtered water from a municipal source!), you may as well save the $3 per bottle. Click here for more info on water at Disneyland. (Including a list of locations inside Disneyland.)

2. Bring lunch and/or dinner from home

Food is a very expensive part of any Disneyland visit. While large ice chests are not allowed inside of Disneyland (there is a clean picnic area outside of the park with lockers large enough for ice chests and shaded tables), small coolers are. While it is not a practice adored by Disneyland, outside food is permitted inside of the Disneyland Resort. We bring sandwiches, fruit, juices, snacks, and the like and rarely have to purchase food. When you load up, just keep in mind that glass containers are not permitted inside the resort. For more dining tips, click here.

3. Consider the least expensive souvenirs

The Disneyland Resort has an amazing selection of souvenirs and merchandise throughout the park. One of the cheapest souvenirs is the pressed penny. Pressed penny machines are found throughout the parks and cost only 51 cents. Arrive at the resort with lots of quarters and pennies, and you will certainly have fun hunting for penny machines throughout the resort. Click here for more information on pressed pennies at the resort.

Other inexpensive souvenirs include the red Mickey Mouse head sucker that sells at the Newsstand (by the park exit) and other various locations for 48 cents and postcards, which can be found throughout the park.

If you want more substantial merchandise for souvenirs, but want to save some serious dough, consider visiting the Disney Character Warehouse where the Disneyland Resort sends all of its clearance merchandise. The outlet is located at 243 Orangefair Mall, Fullerton, CA 92832. The phone number is (714) 870-9363. The outlet is less than 4 miles from Disneyland (about 10 minutes by car) and is open 9-9 Monday through Saturday and 9-8 on Sunday.

4. Get the Disney Visa

The Disney Visa offers a host of discounts throughout the year for shopping online, theater experiences and travel packages. It also offers a 10% discount on some merchandise purchases at the Disneyland Resort and FREE stroller rentals (up to 2 strollers per day). (This changed some time in July or August 2009. The credit card now gets you 50% off of stroller rental. I’m probably going to cancel my Disney Visa and get something with a better cash back/points model. Without the free stroller rental, it’s just no longer worth it.)

5. Market House Coffee (NO LONGER OFFERED)

If you are a coffee drinker and can’t make it though the day without several cups of Joe, consider purchasing your coffee at the Market House on Main Street (east side of the street). They don’t sell fancy coffee drinks, just good old java. If you save your receipt, you can return there throughout the day for more coffee…for free.

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Babes In Disneyland combines the best of everything the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney Company has to offer families with young children and Disney fans alike, in addition to providing reviews and information on the latest travel products, Southern California destinations and lodging options and much more for families.